5 Things We Aren’t Bringing Into 2017

Ah… 2017. Your vision board is complete, intentions are set, and resolutions haven’t been broken yet. Newly allocated vacation days are on your mind and this year, you have committed to living life to the fullest. Sound familiar?

We play this game every year, but this year is different and I’ll tell you why. Here’s a list of 5 things that we aren’t bringing into 2017.

#1 Bad Habits – A good friend once told me that the only way to break a habit is to replace it with a new one. What’s a poor habit of yours that held you back in 2016? Did you fill up on junk food, spend money before planning, use social media to procrastinate? What habit can you form in it’s place? Try always having fruits available for snacks, or checking your budget daily, or limiting social media use to certain hours of the day.

#2 Debbie Downers (or Negative Nathaniels) – BOOOOOOO to your boring, negative friends! Was that rude? But seriously, you know it, I know it, and they most likely know it — inviting these people into your environment can have a serious impact on your energy. We have no room for them in 2017!

To anyone who tells you that you can’t or shouldn’t, or that pollutes your mind with suggestions that they can’t or shouldn’t, should certainly be left behind. I’m not asking you to get rid your longest (but most negative) friends. I am, however, suggesting that try distancing yourself. Try maintaining that distance until they conclude for themselves that their vibe is destructive.

#3 Self Restriction – Thoughts become things, and that’s why believing that things are out of reach will stay in 2016. 2017 will be our year to say yes! There will always be plenty of obstacles, but this year, you will not be your greatest challenge.

#4 Excuses – We can all be guilty of making them. “I don’t have the time”, “I don’t have money”, or “Woe is me!” Try something new this year and cross some things off of your bucket list. Next time, before you rattle off a list of excuses, I want you to try this exercise. Try looking at the situation in a different light, asking yourself, what if? Next, make up a totally ridiculous scenario that leads you to a favorable outcome. Now, modify some aspects of that scenario to make it less ridiculous, and more of a possibility. Assessing and acting on what you can do, will propel you in the direction of your goals.

#5 Chaos – Have you ever heard the quote “Failure to plan is a plan to fail”? Most things won’t go according to plan. So why plan? Because failure to do so is just inviting chaos.

Try and alleviate chaos in at least one area of your life and create a plan. Even if you don’t adhere to it entirely, at least you will have some sense of direction, letting chaos know, it can stay in 2016!